Abstract

CADENA ZAPATA, Martin et al. Energy use integrating Tillage Systems and Soil Amendments in Semiarid Areas of Mexico. Rev Cie Téc Agr [online]. 2013, vol.22, suppl.1, pp.54-57. ISSN 2071-0054.

It was determined the use of energy in three tillage systems (L1 conventional, L2 vertical and L3 zero) integrated with organic soil amendments to look at which management has an effect in the short term (two years) in the reduction of energy demand by tillage. Measurements were carried out during the crop season 2012 in an experiment established since 2010 under a statistical split plot experiment with tillage systems as main plots and amendments (Algae, mycorrhizae and compost) and a check as subplots. There were 12 experimental units replicated three times. The required force in Newton (N) was measured for each implement by means of an integrated dynamometer. The energy in Mega Joules (MJ) was calculated for each area and tillage system. Results show that there are significant differences in energy between tillage systems but not among the treatments with organic amendments. Zero tillage reduced the use of energy in 87% and 84,5% compared to Conventional and Vertical Tillage respectively. There not a statistically difference among conventional and vertical tillage but the later had 15,6% less use of energy. In the short term the only possibility to decrease energy requirement is to reduce tillage passes by using conservation systems.

Keywords : integrated soil management; draft requirements for implements.

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